Why not sell passengers tickets to compete with airlines ?

Question

On the railways I want to buy a ticket from UK including the boat (via Denmark) to Malmo. And I want to buy a ticket to Tallinn via Gothenburg, and Stockholm.

I do not wish to travel hundreds of miles out of my way by eurostar. Even when going to Paris I want to go overnight on a boat and have a proper sleep.

Why do the rail operators not sell inclusive international tickets to compete with low cost airlines ?

Answer 1

Low cost airlines are low cost because they don't get involved with third parties, that is why cheap tickets like the ones you wish for will not happen.

Answer 2

Eurostar will not take you hundreds of miles out of your way. The quickest way of getting to most of these places without flying is by getting Eurostar to Brussels and then going on from there. You will even find some sleeper services. You can get tickets to a lot of places within Europe now, by purchasing through Eurostar. Dont know if these include the sleeper services though.

If you still want to go by Ferry, then you will have to buy your train and ferry tickets seperately. However if getting the Ferry from Harwich to Esbjerg (Denmark), you can buy your onward Danish train ticket onboard the ferry if you havent already brought it beforehand.

Answer 3

Because they only have to sell whatever passenger capacity they have and they sell most of that with the prices as they are. They wouldn't gain by selling cheaper.

Answer 4

Because there is no system to apportion the total ticket price amongst the various operators concerned. Whilst it is economically justifiable to set up such amongst train operators in the UK, I cannot see that such would be the case covering all the ferry operators in Europe with all the 1000s of possible permutations of journeys. Take your own trip. How many others would want to do that to make it worthwhile setting up a clearing house to do the apportionments. I would venture to guess no more than 10s of travellers each year - if that.